Education

CUNY School of Law-JD

Occupation

Member of Assembly 76th District

UES 76th District Assembly Race 2022: Rebecca Seawright Profile

Rebecca A. Seawright earned a law degree from CUNY School of Law.

Rebecca A. Seawright represents the Upper East Side, Yorkville, and Roosevelt Island in New York’s 76th Assembly District. Since her 2014 election, and as the first woman to serve the district, she has been a strong voice for over 140,000 constituents, securing hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding for public schools, senior centers, parks, and non-profits.

Rebecca A. Seawright | New York State Assembly

Rebecca was elected to represent New York’s 76th Assembly District in 2014.

Rebecca A. Seawright - New York State Assembly

Rebecca was first elected to represent New York’s 76th Assembly District in 2014 and is in her sixth term. 

2026 New York General Election

The Assembly's proposed budget includes $1 billion for a new Small Business Reopening and Relief Grant Program. Grants cover various business costs, including payroll, rent, mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities, full or pro-rated state-required fees, as well as the purchase of pandemic-related expenses. These include personal protective equipment necessary to protect workers and consumers, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and other related construction costs.

"These critical investments will help New York's small businesses recover from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and get New Yorkers back to work," said Seawright.

Assembly Speaker Heastie and Assembly Member Seawright Announce Recover and Restart Budget Plan

Supported a Small Business Reopening and Relief Grant Program to help businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

- Supported a Small Business Reopening and Relief Grant Program to help businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Economy

Seawright cosponsored the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, implement the state’s renewable energy goals for 2030, support disadvantaged communities, and invest in green energy projects that pay prevailing wages.

Environmental - Rebecca Seawright

Rebecca has fought to protect our community through major environmental and sustainability initiatives.

One of Rebecca’s first acts in office was to sponsor the clean waterways fund, signed by the Governor.

Rebecca will continue her commitment to monitoring air quality surrounding the waste transfer station. In 2017 Rebecca introduced and passed legislation to require the New York State Department of Health to conduct a study on the high incidence of asthma in Manhattan and prepare remediation plans.

Rebecca introduced legislation to require the New York State Commissioner of Environmental Conservation to implement regulations requiring the placement of air quality monitoring equipment at waste transfer stations in New York.

Co-sponsored the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to reduce emissions, advance renewable-energy goals, and invest in green-energy projects.

Sponsored the Clean Waterways Fund, which was signed into law.

Introduced legislation requiring air-quality monitoring equipment at waste-transfer stations.

- Co-sponsored the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to reduce emissions, advance renewable-energy goals, and invest in green-energy projects.
- Sponsored the Clean Waterways Fund, which was signed into law.
- Introduced legislation requiring air-quality monitoring equipment at waste-transfer stations.

Energy & the Environment

Assembly Bill 7907 greatly expands access to the Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP), a critical initiative that extends an elder’s ability to age in their own home or community, versus more costly institutional care, by eliminating the physician’s prescription requirement for non-medical in-home-, respite care-, and ancillary services.

The bill also empowers Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) who are responsible for coordinating EISEP services by disposing of cost-sharing analysis requirements, which had proven to be fiscally unsound and counterproductive, unburdening these offices to focus on more efficient service delivery.

NYS Assembly Unanimously Passes Aging Chair Seawright’s Bills to Expand Homecare and Respite Care Without a Prescription and to Mandate the Health Commissioner to Report on Use of Elder Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage Program (EPIC)

Assembly Bill 8090 requires the State Department of Health to produce a report for the Governor on the 2022-26 utilization of the elderly pharmaceutical insurance coverage (EPIC) program, including granular data on enrollees – such as the total number and the percentage who are Medicare Savings program-eligible and benefits, like the number of participating provider pharmacies.

More than 325,000 income-eligible seniors aged 65 receive affordable prescription medication in New York State. However, there have been numerous changes to EPIC in the past several years. This report would analyze trends, evaluate cost containment, and provide enrollment and cost projections for 2027-28.

Along with her colleagues, she achieved the strongest rent reforms in New York State’s history, making rent stabilization and rent control permanent. She is a fighter against discrimination, intolerance and violence. She obtained passage for a new law providing for insurance coverage for women and men who need 3-D mammograms for breast cancer detection. She introduced and passed an Equal Rights Amendment to the New York State Constitution.

Rebecca Seawright Campaign Website

Advanced Assembly Bill 7907 to expand access to nonmedical in-home and respite services for older adults without a physician's prescription.

Advanced Assembly Bill 7907 to expand access to nonmedical in-home, respite care, and ancillary services for older adults without a physician's prescription.

Advanced Assembly Bill 8090 to require state reporting on enrollment and use of the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program.

Passed a law requiring insurance coverage for three-dimensional mammograms for breast-cancer detection.

- Advanced Assembly Bill 7907 to expand access to nonmedical in-home, respite care, and ancillary services for older adults without a physician's prescription.
- Advanced Assembly Bill 8090 to require state reporting on enrollment and use of the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program.
- Passed a law requiring insurance coverage for three-dimensional mammograms for breast-cancer detection.

Healthcare

A proponent of strong democratic values, Rebecca strongly supports reforms to run elections efficiently, accurately, and with integrity to protect our voting rights. Notably, for the 2020 General Election and the 2021 New York City Primary, Rebecca made national headlines by successfully securing additional early voting and Election Day poll sites.

Supports election reforms intended to run elections efficiently and accurately while protecting voting rights.

Secured additional early-voting and Election Day poll sites for the 2020 general election and 2021 New York City primary.

- Supports election reforms intended to run elections efficiently and accurately while protecting voting rights.
- Secured additional early-voting and Election Day poll sites for the 2020 general election and 2021 New York City primary.

Voting & Elections

We can all agree that safety in our community is paramount. I hosted a Virtual Town Hall with the NYPD to discuss how we can reduce the crime rate and create a safer neighborhood for our community and another featuring the NYS Police Hate Crimes Unit to specifically discuss hate crimes in New York City. As sponsor of the Virtual Communications Crime Accountability Package, we aim to combat ZOOM-bombing, prevent COVID-19 scams and to protect consumers' personal identifying information. Modern technology and online platforms like ZOOM have made it easier for all of us to stay in touch during this national crisis.

Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright is calling for stricter state hate crime laws that would enhance prosecutions and require judges to order special "anti-hate" training for every person convicted of a hate crime.

The Seawright proposal would plug a loophole in the current law and would make "anti-hate" counseling mandatory.

Assembly Member Seawright Calls for Tougher Hate Crime Laws

We need to build on the strong gun laws that now exist to further protect our community.

Rebecca passed the Safe Homes and Families Act which allows officers responding to reports of domestic violence to temporarily take custody of a firearm that is in the possession of an alleged perpetrator. Rebecca passed legislation which has been signed into law to revoke firearm rights of convicted domestic violence offenders.

Gun Reform - Rebecca Seawright

Rebecca passed legislation which has been signed into law to revoke firearm rights of convicted domestic violence offenders. Rebecca has cosponsored legislation on banning “bump stocks” to prohibit the possession, manufacture, transportation, shipment, and sale of firing accelerators. Rebecca has passed legislation to establish a State Police Adopt-a-gun foundation which allows a person to anonymously surrender firearms in exchange for monetary awards.

Rebecca co-sponsored Bill A2513 to repeal section 50-a of the Civil Rights Law to make public the police disciplinary records detailing misconduct. Rebecca fought for and helped pass the STA Act which provides greater transparency by collecting and publicly reporting critical police data from across the state.

Criminal Justice Reform - Rebecca Seawright

Rebecca fought for and helped pass the STA Act which provides greater transparency by collecting and publicly reporting critical police data from across the state. Rebecca fought to pass A5617 to establish an Office of Special Investigation within the State Attorney General’s Office to investigate civilian deaths which occurred in law enforcement custody. Rebecca co-sponsored legislation to raise the age of adult criminal responsibility to 18 from 16 which precludes juvenile defendants from being held in an adult facility.

Rebecca co-sponsored legislation to raise the age of adult criminal responsibility to 18 from 16 which precludes juvenile defendants from being held in an adult facility. Rebecca successfully advocated for passage of legislation which provides for the automatic sealing of the records of certain low-level convictions for possession of marijuana and prohibits waiver of such sealings as part of a plea agreement to avoid the unfair stigma of a lifelong criminal record.

Sponsors the Virtual Communications Crime Accountability Package to address online disruptions, COVID-19 scams, and personal-information protection.

Sponsored the Virtual Communications Crime Accountability Package to address online meeting disruptions, COVID-19 scams, and personal-information protection.

Calls for stricter hate-crime laws, including mandatory anti-hate counseling for people convicted of hate crimes.

Passed the Safe Homes and Families Act, allowing officers responding to domestic-violence reports to temporarily take custody of an alleged perpetrator's firearm.

Co-sponsored legislation prohibiting possession, manufacture, transportation, shipment, and sale of bump stocks.

Co-sponsored Bill A2513 to make police disciplinary records detailing misconduct public.

Helped pass legislation creating an Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation for civilian deaths in law-enforcement custody.

Advocated for legislation automatically sealing records for certain low-level marijuana-possession convictions.

- Sponsored the Virtual Communications Crime Accountability Package to address online meeting disruptions, COVID-19 scams, and personal-information protection.
- Calls for stricter hate-crime laws, including mandatory anti-hate counseling for people convicted of hate crimes.
- Passed the Safe Homes and Families Act, allowing officers responding to domestic-violence reports to temporarily take custody of an alleged perpetrator's firearm.
- Co-sponsored legislation prohibiting possession, manufacture, transportation, shipment, and sale of bump stocks.
- Co-sponsored Bill A2513 to make police disciplinary records detailing misconduct public.
- Helped pass legislation creating an Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation for civilian deaths in law-enforcement custody.
- Advocated for legislation automatically sealing records for certain low-level marijuana-possession convictions.

Public Safety

Throughout my tenure I have had constituent services at the forefront of my priorities, opening a storefront office that has served thousands of constituents with issues ranging from housing to public assistance. I have also been a staunch advocate for increased funding for our local public schools and public higher education and brought back millions of dollars for local nonprofits, parks, and infrastructure.

A champion for high-quality public education, Seawright strengthens our schools and has obtained more than $1 billion in new state support. She sponsors the Teach LGBT curriculum bill to ensure the NYS Education Department develops curriculum on the historical treatment and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in America.

Advocates for increased funding for local public schools and public higher education.

Sponsors the Teach Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender curriculum bill, directing the Education Department to develop related history curriculum.

- Advocates for increased funding for local public schools and public higher education.
- Sponsors the Teach Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender curriculum bill, directing the Education Department to develop related history curriculum.

Education

I am a co-sponsor of Good Cause Eviction in the Assembly which regulates a landlord's ability to surge rent prices and safeguards tenants from unreasonable evictions. I will continue to fight for its passage next legislative session and will continue to work with advocates to advance fair housing legislation. My office regularly hosts a pro-bono housing attorney to ensure landlords are held accountable. In addition my office has also regularly hosted SCRIE and DRIE enrollment clinics with the the NYC Department of Finance. I have also fought to refund the ERAP program to make sure renters continue to have relief as we continue to recover from the pandemic.

Rebecca has strenuously opposed the repeal of New York City’s cap on residential floor-area-ratio (FAR) in the multiple dwelling law which would allow for more out-of-scale buildings.

Housing - Rebecca Seawright

Rebecca supports capping the height of buildings in order to help ameliorate harmful overdevelopment.

What is one policy you would support to make housing more affordable in New York City?

I am a co-sponsor of Good Cause Eviction in the Assembly which regulates a landlord's ability to surge rent prices and safeguards tenants from unreasonable evictions. I will continue to fight for its passage next legislative session and will continue to work with advocates to advance fair housing legislation. My office regularly hosts a pro-bono housing attorney to ensure landlords are held accountable.

Rebecca cosponsored the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection act of 2019 which implemented measures to abolish vacancy decontrol, expand the Emergency Tenant Protection Act statewide, and diminished the ability of the landlords to raise the rent after renovations of a building or apartment unit.

Advocates for refunding the Emergency Rental Assistance Program to continue renter relief during pandemic recovery.

Advocated for refunding the Emergency Rental Assistance Program to continue renter relief during pandemic recovery.

Opposes repealing New York City's residential floor-area-ratio cap, which would allow larger buildings.

Co-sponsored Good Cause Eviction legislation to regulate rent increases and protect tenants from unreasonable evictions.

Co-sponsored the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, limiting rent increases and expanding tenant protections statewide.

- Advocated for refunding the Emergency Rental Assistance Program to continue renter relief during pandemic recovery.
- Opposes repealing New York City's residential floor-area-ratio cap, which would allow larger buildings.
- Co-sponsored Good Cause Eviction legislation to regulate rent increases and protect tenants from unreasonable evictions.
- Co-sponsored the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, limiting rent increases and expanding tenant protections statewide.

Housing & Urban Development

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Rebecca A. Seawright

- Passed a law requiring insurance coverage for three-dimensional mammograms for breast-cancer detection.

- Calls for stricter hate-crime laws, including mandatory anti-hate counseling for people convicted of hate crimes.
- Passed the Safe Homes and Families Act, allowing officers responding to domestic-violence reports to temporarily take custody of an alleged perpetrator's firearm.
- Co-sponsored legislation prohibiting possession, manufacture, transportation, shipment, and sale of bump stocks.
- Co-sponsored Bill A2513 to make police disciplinary records detailing misconduct public.
- Helped pass legislation creating an Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation for civilian deaths in law-enforcement custody.
- Advocated for legislation automatically sealing records for certain low-level marijuana-possession convictions.

- Sponsors the Teach Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender curriculum bill, directing the Education Department to develop related history curriculum.

- Co-sponsored the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, limiting rent increases and expanding tenant protections statewide.

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- Your assembly member is involved in the legislative process at the state level as part of the New York State Assembly, which consists of 150 members and serves as the lower house of the New York State Legislature.  
- Assembly members are responsible for representing your interests and assisting you with navigating state services while bringing resources back to your district.  
- Assembly members draft laws, approve budgets, oversee the state executive branch, and engage in debates and votes on proposed legislation.  
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your assembly member can serve on committees, where many bills may be delayed before reaching a vote.  
- Assembly members are elected for a two-year term with no term limits.  
- Their annual salary is $142,000.  

Your representative and state lawmaker in the New York State Assembly.